You may have heard of the television series, “Northern Exposure” an American comedy-drama on a fictional town in Alaska, which got a lot of viewers interested in Alaska in the 90s. In Singapore, we too have our very own northern district in which the Frasers Insider team went on an excursion to uncover some interesting sights and places!
Singaporeans can experience fishing without heading out to sea at Orto, located between Yishun and Khatib on the North South MRT Line.
Although nothing like Alaska, we discovered some unusual places to visit in this less-documented part of our island – some that even locals may not know exist.
A respite from our hectic city life
Woodlands Waterfront’s refurbished jetty offers views of the Causeway and the Straits of Johor.
Woodlands Waterfront Park (Source) is undoubtedly one of the crowning jewels of the north. It is a scenic and idyllic park that boasts a stunning view of the entire coastal region from the north. The 11-hectare park also houses a large playground with a full suite of equipment and a 1.5-kilometre-long waterfront promenade. The park is a huge hit, especially among residents in the north, who visit for some fun, relaxation and respite from the hectic city life.
Fitted with jogging tracks and cycling trails of varying difficulties, Woodlands Waterfront Park is a relaxing and conducive location for residents and fitness enthusiasts to exercise in. Budding photographers are also drawn here for its many picturesque opportunities to capture stunning sunset views and nature at the park.
Race your weekend away
You can also be the star in your own Fast and Furious movie at Singapore’s first Drift Karting Arena hidden within Orto, a 24-hour multi-recreational park formally known as Bottle Tree Park.
While traditional Go-Karts are built with a focus on high speed and straight tracks, it is unable to include a drifting element without any compromise on one’s safety.
But Maximum Drift is a game changer in the plain vanilla Go-Kart industry in Singapore. The introduction of its Drift Karts focuses not only on speed but challenges one’s skill at every corner of this thrilling ride ensuring safety and guaranteeing an unforgettable experience on a whole new level.
Many have put their skills to the test with no regrets after enjoying the adrenaline rush of a thrilling ride.
A century-old hot spring
This red building houses the well from which the spring water flows.
Another relatively undiscovered place that caught our eye is Singapore’s only hot spring (Source), located in the northern-most tip of Singapore, Sembawang. Chinese merchant Seah Eng Keong discovered the Sembawang Hot Spring in 1909 and sent the water for testing in Europe. Results indicated that the water was found to resemble water from “mineral hot springs”.
Nearby residents are known to bring their own buckets and basins and fill them up with spring water from the taps to soak their feet in. The heat of the water, in moderate amounts, has been known to relax the muscles and joints.
Public access to the hot spring is granted from 7am to 7pm daily. It is likely that in the future, the hot spring will be fitted with wooden tubs of various sizes for people to soak in. This idea which was well received, was mooted by two design students in a competition called “My Ideas for Public Spaces”.
Until then, you may want to bring your own buckets for an authentic, Sembawang hot spring experience.
Aqua adventures up North
Image Source: http://brandinsider.straitstimes.com/parclife/canoe-camp-and-more-in-sembawang/
Operated by the People’s Association of Singapore, Water-Venture (Sembawang) is a water-sports facility constructed to cater to the needs of the North-West community (Source). Water-Venture (Sembawang) features traditional Malay architecture, and offers a wide range of water activities, such as sea-rafting and kayaking. For those seeking a full-fledged outdoor adventure, Water-Venture (Sembawang) provides orienteering courses, diverse nature trails and a chance to sleep under the stars and soak in the view of the Straits of Johor from the comforts of their camps (Source).
After tiring ourselves out from the various activities we headed to Northpoint City to chill and refuel our energy before heading home.
Evidently, the north is an exciting area of exploration off the beaten path, and reflects a different side of Singapore – greenery, sea adventures and a throwback to Singapore’s colourful past.
Stay tuned for part two of our two-part blog article, as we hunt down delectable delights and foodie secrets that the community in the north truly relish!